Ground cover rose plant named &#39;WEKSURDICLA&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Ground Cover rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of yellow edged pink coloration.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybridaplant.

Variety denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination‘WEKsurdicla’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Ground CoverRose. It has as its seed parent the variety known as ‘INTerdust’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 10,240) and as its pollen parent the variety known as‘WEKfunk’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,455).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventorare the following combinations of characteristics: its low spreadinggrowing habit, its unusual for the class yellow edged pink flowerscoloration and its medium flowers size for the class. The plant has alow spreading growing habit, suitable for outdoor garden decoration.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed in KernCounty and Pomona, Calif., shows that the foregoing and otherdistinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established andtransmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘WEKsurdicla’ maybe asexually propagated by cuttings, budding and grafting. The buddingand grafting successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa hybridacv. ‘Dr. Huey’ (not patented).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, ‘INTerdust’ bythe following combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKsurdicla’bears double flowers (about 20 to 30 petals) of yellow edged pinkcoloration, ‘INTerdust’ bears single to semi-double flowers of lightyellow coloration with significantly lesser petalage (about 5 to 10petals). The new variety bears medium sized flowers (about 5.5 to about7.5 cm. in diameter), whereas the seed parent bears significantlysmaller flowers (about 3.8 cm. in diameter).

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, ‘WEKfunk’by the following combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKsurdicla’bears medium sized flowers (about 5.5 to about 7.5 cm. in diameter) ofyellow edged pink coloration, ‘WEKfunk’ bears significantly largerflowers (about 8.0 to about 10.6 cm. in diameter) of cream and cherryblushed burgundy coloration. The new variety has a spreading low growinghabit (about 48 to about 66 cm. in height), whereas the pollen parenthas an upright significantly taller growing habit (about 180 to about200 cm. in height).

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The new variety may be distinguished from its closest commerciallyavailable cultivar, ‘INTERhappy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,646) by thefollowing combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKsurdicla’ bearsdouble flowers (about 20 to 30 petals) of yellow edged pink coloration,‘INTERhappy’ bears single flowers of yellow-orange coloration withsignificantly lesser petalage (6 petals under normal conditions). Thenew variety bears medium sized flowers (about 5.5 to about 7.5 cm. indiameter), whereas the closest commercially available cultivar bearssignificantly smaller flowers (average open diameter is about 4 cm).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. The branches used for the photograph came from 3 to 4year-old rose plants of the new variety grown outdoors in Wasco, Calif.in the month of November. Throughout this specification, colorreferences and/or values are based upon the Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society (2001) except where common terms of colordefinition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 3 to 4 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Wasco, Calif. in the month of November.Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climaticconditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWER

The new variety usually bears its flowers in clusters of three to fiveor more per stem. Flowers are borne in rounded to somewhat pyramidalclusters on strong medium length to long stems (about 18 to about 35cm.). The cluster ranges from about 9.3 to about 11.8 cm. in diameter.Outdoors, the plant blooms abundantly and nearly continuously during thegrowing season. The flowers have a mild tea to fruity fragrance.

BUD

The peduncle is about 3.5 to about 4.5 cm. in length, of slender caliper(about 0.2 to about 0.3 cm. in diameter), and usually erect to somewhatstiff. It is almost entirely rough, with many stipitate glands and a fewsmall prickles. Peduncle color is between 146B and 146C often heavilysuffused, especially on the side exposed to the sun, with between 183Aand 183B.

Before the calyx breaks, the bud is about 1.3 to about 1.5 cm. indiameter at the widest point, about 0.8 to about 1.1 cm. in length, andpointed to somewhat ovoid in shape. The surface of the bud bears between8 to 12 foliaceous appendages with many stipitate glands, usually withslender foliaceous parts extending beyond the tip of the bud about ¾ ormore of its length. Bud color is between 146A and 146C often heavilysuffused, especially on the side exposed to the sun, with between 183Aand 183C.

The sepals are about 1.8 to about 2.3 cm. in length and about 0.6 toabout 0.9 cm. in width at the widest point. The outer surface color ofthe sepal is between 146A and 146C often heavily suffused, especially onthe side exposed to the sun, with between 183A and 183C. The outersurface of the sepal is moderately rough and bears between 0 to 4foliaceous appendages with some stipitate glands and hairs. The innersurface color of the sepal is near 146C broadly bordered by near 137B.The inner surface of the sepal is covered with fine wooly tomentum;sepal margins are lined with many stipitate glands and numerous hairs.

The receptacle of the flower is somewhat short (about 0.6 to about 0.8cm.) and somewhat thin to average in caliper (about 0.9 to about 1.2 cm.in diameter). The receptacle is funnel shaped in form. Its surface issmooth with somewhat thin fleshy walls. The receptacle color is between137A and 137C.

As the petals open (after the calyx breaks), the bud is about 1.5 toabout 1.7 cm. in diameter at the widest point, about 1.9 to about 2.3cm. in length, and pointed to ovoid in form. The color of the undersurfaces of the newly opened petals is between 16C and 15A blushed withbetween 46A to 46C. At the point where the petal attaches, there is asmall zone of between 2A and 2C. The color of the upper surfaces of thenewly opened petals is between 9A and 9B edged with between 53A to 53B.At the point where the petal attaches, there is a very small zone ofbetween 13A and 13B.

BLOOM

When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 5.5 to about 7.5 cm. indiameter. Petalage is double with about 20 to 30 petals and about 1 to 5petaloids irregularly arranged. When partially open, the bloom form iscupped to globular, and the petals are cupped with petal edgesmoderately reflexed inward to sometimes somewhat reflexed outward. Whenfully open, the bloom form is more cupped, and the petals are imbricatedto cupped with petal edges moderately reflexed inward to sometimessomewhat reflexed outward.

PETALS

The substance of the petals is moderately heavy and of medium thickness,with upper surfaces slightly shiny and under surfaces matte. The petalsare about 2.8 to about 3.5 cm. in length and about 1.9 to about 2.5 cm.in width at the widest point. Petal margins are entire.

The outer petals are oval to obovate in shape with rounded apices andsometimes notched with one notch.

The inner petals are oval to obovate in shape with rounded apices andsometimes notched with one notch.

Petaloids are about 0.5 to about 2.0 cm. in length and about 0.3 toabout 0.5 cm. in width at the widest point. Petaloids are shapedsomewhat gladiate to spatulate with mucronate to acuminate apices.

NEWLY OPENED FLOWER

The under surface color of the outer petals is between 4D and 13D.Toward the middle of the petal the base color is suffused with between65C to 65D. At the point where the petal attaches, there is a small zoneof near 1C. The upper surface color of the outer petals is between 9Band 8C. This color diffuses into between N66C to 67C toward the petalmargins. At the point where the petal attaches, there is a small zone ofbetween 14B and 14C.

The under surface color of the intermediate and inner petals is between4D and 13D diffusing into between 65D to 65B. The upper surface color ofthe intermediate and inner petals is near 4C at the petal base diffusingto near N155D before changing to between N66C to 67B toward the petalmargins.

The under and upper surface colors of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and innerpetals.

The general tonality of the newly opened flower is near 4C at the petalbase diffusing to near N155D before changing to between N66C to 67Btoward the petal margins.

THREE-DAY-OLD FLOWER

The upper surface color of the outer petals is between N66B and N66Cwith streaks of near N155C. At the point where the petal attaches, thereis a small zone of between 14B and 14C. The under surface color of theouter petals is between 4D and 13D at the base of the petals changing tobetween 65C to 65D towards the petal edges. At the point where the petalattaches, there is a small zone of near 1C.

The under surface color of the intermediate and inner petals is between4D and 13D diffusing to between 65D to 65B. The upper surface color ofthe intermediate and inner petals is between 9B and 8C diffusing tobetween N66C and 67C.

The under and upper surface colors of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and innerpetals.

The general tonality of the three-day-old flower is between 9B and 8Cdiffusing to between N66C and 67C.

On the spent bloom, the petals usually drop off cleanly.

In November in Wasco, Calif., blooms on the bush growing outdoorsgenerally last about three to four days. Cut roses from plants grownoutdoors and kept at normal indoor living temperatures generally lastabout four to five days.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens are many in number (average about 120) and are arrangedregularly about the pistils; a few are mixed with petaloids. Thefilaments are of medium length (about 0.3 to about 0.9 cm.) most withanthers. Filaments are between 12A and 12C in color. The anthers are ofmedium size for the class and all open approximately at the same time.Anther color when immature is near 17B on the external part and near 16Con the internal part. Anther color at maturity is near 163A on theexternal part and near 200D on the internal part. Pollen is moderate toabundant and between 22B and 21D in color.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Pistils vary in number (average about 60). The styles are somewhatuneven, moderately short in length (about 0.3 to about 0.5 cm.), thin incaliper, and loosely bunched. Stigma color is between 159A and 158D.Style color is between 53B to 53C. Ovaries are usually all enclosed inthe calyx.

Hips have not been observed on this variety when grown in Wasco, Calif.

FOLIAGE

The compound leaves are usually comprised of three to five tooccasionally seven leaflets and are borne abundantly. The five-leafletleaves are about 5.5 to about 8.5 cm. in length and about 4.5 to about5.5 cm. in width at the widest point, leathery in texture on both sides,and glossy in finish on the upper side and matte on the underside. Theleaves have a pinnate venation pattern. The terminal leaflets are about2.7 to about 3.7 cm. in length and about 1.5 to about 2.2 cm. in widthat the widest point, shaped ovate with mostly acute to subacute apicesand rounded bases. Their margins are simply serrate.

The upper surface color of the mature leaf is between 139A and 136A. Theunder surface color of the mature leaf is between 146A and 147B. Theunder and upper colors of the leaf veins on the mature leaf are similarin coloration to the upper and under surfaces colors of the mature leaf.The upper surface color of the young leaf is between 146A and 147B,often moderately suffused with between 183B and 178A. The under surfacecolor of the young leaf is between 146B and 146C, often moderatelysuffused with between 183B and 178B. The under and upper colors of theleaf veins on the young leaf are similar in coloration to the upper andunder surfaces colors of the young leaf.

The rachis is somewhat light in caliper and moderately rough. The upperside is deeply grooved with many stipitate glands on the edges of thegrooves. The underside of the rachis is moderately rough with fewstipitate glands and small prickles. The rachis color is near 137D onthe underside and near 146A on the upper side, sometimes moderatelysuffused on the young leaves with between 187B to 183A.

The stipules are about 0.6 to about 0.9 cm. in length and moderatelynarrow (about 0.2 to about 0.4 cm.) with long straight points thatusually turn out at an angle of more than 45 degrees. The under andupper surface color of the stipule is between 146A and 137C oftenmoderately suffused on the young leaf with between 187B and 183A. Theupper and under surfaces of the stipules are smooth in texture.

The petiole is light in caliper and moderately rough. The upper side isdeeply grooved with many stipitate glands on the edges of the grooves.The underside of the petiole is moderately rough with few stipitateglands and small prickles. The petiole is about 0.6 to about 1.0 cm. inlength and about 0.1 to about 0.15 cm in width at the widest point. Thepetiole color is near 137D on the underside and near 146A on the upperside, sometimes moderately suffused on the young leaves with between187B to 183A.

The plant displays an above average degree of resistance to powderymildew (Sphaerotheca pannosa) and rust (Phragmidium sp.) as compared toother commercial varieties grown under comparable conditions in Wasco,Calif. The plant's winter hardiness and drought/heat tolerance are yetto be determined.

GROWTH

The plant has a spreading low growing habit (about 48 to about 66 cm. inheight and about 122 to about 195 cm. spread at the widest point), withfull branching. It displays somewhat vigorous growth and the canes areof light to medium size caliper for the class (about 0.2 to about 0.5cm. in diameter at the widest point).

The color of the major stems is between 146C and 138B. The major stemsare rough in texture and they bear many large prickles that are about0.5 to about 0.7 cm. in length. The large prickles are hooked slightlydownward with a medium length oval base; prickle color is near 183A. Themajor stem bears many small prickles of similar shape and coloration.

The color of the branches is between 146C and 138B. The branches arerough in texture and they bear many large prickles which are of similarsize and shape to the large prickles on the major stems; prickle coloris near 183A. The branches bear many small prickles of similar shape andcoloration.

The color of the new shoots is between 146B and 138B often heavilysuffused with between 183A and 187B. The new shoots are rough in textureand they bear many large prickles which are of similar size and shape tothe large prickles on the major stems; prickle color is near 183A. Theshoots bear many small prickles of similar shape and coloration.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Ground Cover rose plant of the varietysubstantially as described and illustrated herein.